Bars To Offer Sports Betting Through DC Lottery's GambetDC

WASHINGTON, DC — Starting Thursday, businesses in the District of Columbia will begin offering in-person sports betting to their patrons through a partnership with GambetDC.

Local businesses offering in-person sports betting will include Ben’s Next Door, Lou’s City Bar, Takoma Station Tavern and Dirty Water.

On Friday, the locations spearheading the in-person sports betting program will celebrate the occasion by hosting events from 7 p.m. to midnight. The events will showcase the new self-service sports betting kiosks.

The simultaneous events will feature local sports figures like former Washington Redskin greats Brian Mitchell, Rick “Doc” Walker, Fred Smoot and Santana Moss, as well as prizes.

“Our goal is to be the top sports bar in the District, so adding sports betting was an easy decision,” said Mark Helliwell, managing partner of Lou’s City Bar. “With GambetDC, we have a partner that’s as invested in our success as we are, and we can’t wait to get started.”

GambetDC, which is overseen by the DC Lottery, is focused on supporting local businesses in their effort to bounce back from the pandemic. The local businesses opening their own sportsbook with the help of GambetDC will receive a boost in revenue resulting from a 5 percent commission on all sports betting sales and a 1 percent commission on the cashing of sports betting products.

Revenue from the GambetDC program also will return to D.C. through the city’s general fund.

“We are excited to support these iconic local businesses and to help them return from the pandemic better than they were when it started,” said Nicole Jordan, director of marketing and communications for DC Lottery.